Are you ready to level up? Press the start menu and select your character because it’s almost time for the Merecade! Meredith Technology Services invites you to their annual Tech Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to ensure you don’t rage quit when it’s time to put down the controller and get to work. The fair covers a wide array of topics from Brightspace to Cybersecurity—highlighting features that will allow students to learn in a fun and interactive way. The fair also counts as an Academic & Cultural Event.
The fair is a free-flowing event and students are encouraged to explore at their own pace. “Students will have the opportunity to interact with different teams within Technology Services and a few other departments in conversation and some hands-on activities,” said Charlie Hatch, a STAT Team member. Each table will have either an activity or handout for students to reference later.
Angelina Mornin, another member of the STAT Team, says the team “wants students to take advantage of their tech resources at Meredith and feel comfortable asking questions and playing around with tech.”
Those who attended a previous Pop-up Helpdesk event may be familiar with one of the activities planned. “Gone Phishing” allows students to go “fishing” for potential spam emails and social media direct messages and feel confident in identifying and reporting scam messages.
Prizes this year include Target and Starbucks gift cards. “We have partnered with some of our vendors and got some swag from D2L (Brightspace) including socks and pens that I think students will like,” Olivia Mason and Hannah Taib explained. Cybersecurity company Fortinet is coming this year as well. They will have a drawing at their table for a YETI cooler along with some other small prizes.
There are other ways for students to interact with Technology Services. Students who are unable to attend will be happy to learn that they can contact the Helpdesk or come to the Noel House (open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) for one-on-one support.
So what are you waiting for? Head to the Cate Center on Sept. 14 to make your player experience as smooth as possible.
Correction (Sept. 9, 2022): Lauren Hickey, Student Technology Outreach Coordinator, clarified that the "Gone Phishing" event occurred during a Pop-up Helpdesk event. A Technology Services Fair has not occurred since 2019.
By Cecilia Thompson, Contributing Writer